THE Shenzhen Consumer Council has introduced a program under which member fitness clubs offer a seven-day “cooling-off” period for consumers who may have second thoughts about fitness classes they have signed up for, but want a refund, Shenzhen Economic Daily reported Friday.

For a long time, “impulsive consumption” and “no refund without consumption” have been common problems in the fitness industry, which mainly sells prepaid services.

Moreover, consumers’ willingness to purchase fitness classes has also been dampened by the closure of gyms that went broke due to the COVID-19 pandemic this year.

In a bid to boost consumer confidence in the fitness industry, the city’s Consumer Council took the initiative to set a cooling-off period in the industry and launched the program.

As long as the fitness service is not used, consumers can ask for a refund at any time, regardless of any reason, within seven days after the purchase, according to the council.

So far, a total of 10 enterprises in the fitness sector, including Zhongpeng Sports and Culture Development (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd. and The Human Fitness Club, have joined the council’s program. 

(Zhang Yu)